Printing plate making machine

ABSTRACT

Dials may be set to indicate a number of copies to be made from a printing plate for an offset press. As the plate passes through a plate-making machine detectors note its arrival at a printing station where solenoid-activated printing or punching bars print or punch indicia on the plate at a location outside the portion of the plate to be printed. The position of the indicia is governed by the dial setting which determines which solenoid circuits are energized during a printing step. The indicia may be read by an attachment on the offset press, which is then set automatically to produce a desired number of copies from the printing plate.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Tlmaltl Kaneko Tokyo, Japan [21] Appl. No. 759,438 [22] Filed Sept. 12,1968 [45] Patented June 22, 1971 [73] Assignee Kabushiki Kaisha Ricoh Tokyo, J 1 [32] Priority Sept. 20,1967 1 1"". 1 142/ 934 [54] PRINTING PLATE MAKING MACHINE 10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 101/45, 101/1, 101/401.1, 346/78,101/247,101/322 [51] Int. Cl 8411 5/02, H B41c 1/.10,G01d 15/12 [50] FieldoiSearch 101/401.1, 401.2, 401.5. 369. 90.19, 20, 45, 368,1,132, 322; 346/78 [56] References Cited UN1TED STATES PATENTS 1,259,001 3/1918 Dolcater 101/369 Primary Examiner-William B Penn Attorney-Burgess, Ryan and Hicks ABSTRACT: Dials may be set to indicate a number of copies to be made from a printing plate for an offset press. As the plate passes through a plate-making machine detectors note its arrival at a printing station where solenoid-activated printing or punching bars print or punch indicia on the plate at a location outside the portion of the plate to be printed. The position of the indicia is governed by the'dialsetting which determines which solenoid circuits are energized during a printing step. The indicia may be read by an attachment on the offset press, which is then set automatically to produce a desired number of copies from the printing plate.

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I NV EN TOR TAMA/(l KANE/(0 ATTORNEY-f PATENTEU JUN22 IHYI SHEET 2 OF 4 Dn. 55mm BRTA MPNE UEEN WRSI s M m I m 0 I 2 W F INVENTOR TAMAK/ KANE/(0 BY gm ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUN22 1971 3; 5 5,92

sum 3 OF 4 (85 FIG. 6

{lllll INVENTOR TAMAK/ KANE/(0 ATTORNEYS PRINTING PLATE MAKING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates a printing-plate-making machine for offset press printing plates and more particularly a printing-plate-making machine provided with a device for marking on a printing plate the number of copies to be printed therefrom; marking being accomplished so that an automatic reading device on the offset press can set said press for the desired number of copies.

In the conventional offset press printing plates are stacked upon a table so that the printing plates may be fed one by one into the press beginning with the uppermost one. Once fed, the printing plate reaches a plate cylinder through the pair of feed rollers and is clamped tightly around the plate cylinder. It then undergoes a treatment by which the background of the printing plate isrendered repellent to oily ink. A mixture of water and oily ink is applied, the ink adhering to the image. Then, the printing plate prints the inked image on the surface of a rubber blanket fastened to a blanket cylinder in the press. Thereafter, the printed image is offset or transferred to a copy sheet which is fed into the nip between the'blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder of the press.

The printing plate clamped tightly around the plate cylinder remains wrapped therearound until the required number of copies has been printed. After the completion of the printing operation by this printing plate, the printing plate is discharged by plate-discharging rollers to a discharged printing-plate-receiving stand or platform. Thus, the whole printing operation using the printing plate is accomplished.

In the conventional press described above, when different numbers of copies to be printed from successive printing plates stacked upon the printing plate table, prior to the printing operation by one specified printing plate, the number of copies to be printed by this printing plate must be preset into a counter. Therefore, at least one operator must always watch or monitor the printing operation of the press in order to preset the counter. Therefore, there has been proposed a method in which a mark or the like representing a predetermined number of copies to be printed by one specified printing plate is provided in that printing plate and such mark or the like is read out by a suitable readout device during the course of the printing operation in order to detect the predetermined number of copies to be printed from said plate,

and upon completion of printing that predetermined number of copies, the printing plate is replaced automatically with the next printing plate.

In order to develop the image of the original upon the printing plate and also place a mark of the type described above by a single printing-plate-making machine, it is necessary that the mark or the like must be made upon the printing plate plate while the printing plate is being transported within the machine. In this case, in order to accomplish the above described operation, means for detecting the presence of the printing plate in the printing-plate-making machine is required, as is an impression or printing device or punching device. The latter device should act in response to a signal from the detecting means so as to provide upon the printing plate the mark or the like representing the digits of units, tens and so on of the predetermined number of copies to be printed.

The present invention relates to a printing-plate-making machine with a device for inscribing the mark or the like described above upon the. printing plate when the printing image of the original is transferred to the printing plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, markings which record the number of copies to be printed from a printing plate can be, printed upon the printing plate at a part thereof remote from the part to be reproduced on the copy sheetsimultaneously when the printing image'is transferred to the printing plate. While the printing plate is transported through the machine, the digit of units of a predetermined number of copies to be printed is first recorded upon the printing plate, the digit of tens of that number is then recorded and so on until all the digits of the number have been recorded upon the printing plate.

As a device for controlling the marking device a drum is provided with control elements such as recess or projections arranged and disposed along the generating lines of the drum.

-Alternatively a cam directly coupled to a ratchet wheel BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of one part of a printing plate provided with a mark representing the number of copies to be printed;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for illustrating a method of marking in order to represent a number or numeral;

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of a device incorporated in a printing-plate-making machine according to the present invention in order to provide the mark shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one part of the device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a printing-plate-making machine incorporating the device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic explanatory view of another embodiment of the present invention for providing marks, symbols, punched holes or the like;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one portion of the device shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a part of a printing plate provided with numerical indicating hole column and a column of holes for determining the positions of punched holes both of which cooperate with the device shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a row of printing bars and their associated mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1 reference character a designates a part of a printing plate adapted to receive an image to be reproduced, while b indicates the remainder thereof. In part b there is located a mark M for indicating the number of copies to be printed by this printing plate. The mark M shown in FIG. 1 consists of black marks which can be made when the printing image is made upon the printing part a, and serves to record the number of copies to be printed as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The reference character S designates a starting mark for actuating a mark readout device. Then, the readout device can read out the digit of units and that of tens of a number of copies to be printed from the marks T,, T etc. It should be noted here that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the mark M is sufficient onlyto record a two-digit number. The black mark in the row of T designates the digit of tens while the black marks in the row .of T designate the digit of units. The black marks shown in columns L,, L,, L and L, designate numerals l, 2, 4 and 8, respectively. Thus, the sum of the numerals designated by the black marks in one row represents the digit of that row of a number of copies to be printed which can be designated in its entirety by M. For example, in FIG. 1 the black mark in the row T, representing the digit of tens is found in the column L so that digit of tens is I. In the similar manner, the black marks in the row T are found in the columns L, andL so that the black marks represent 2 and 4 respectively, whereby their sum of 6 is the digit of units. Thus, it is clear that the mark M shown in FIG. 1 stores the number 16, which can be read out by the readout device. In the similar manner as described hereinbefore, according to the memory method of the present invention, any numeral from to 9 can be represented in any of the rows. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. The numeral 0 (zero) can be represented by the absence of a black mark in a row. Thus, it will be understood that the mark M shown in FIG. 1 can store a number from 0 to 99. It will be clear that when the number of rows in the mark M is increased, larger numbers can be represented by the mark M FIGS. 3 and illustrate the embodiments of the present invention for providing the above described mark upon a printing plate. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 10 and 11 designate detectors for detecting a printing plate, said detectors being disposed in the transportation path of the plate 12 for pivotal movement about pivots 13 and 14 respectively, these pivots 13 and 14 also serving as electrical terminals respectively. The detector 10 serves to locate on the plate the mark for the digit of units; the detector 11, to locate the mark for the digit of tens. When there is no printing plate in the device shown in FIG. 3, both of the detectors 10 and 11 take the angular position as shown by the detector 11 in FIG. 3. But when the printing plate 12 is fed into the device and transported along its path, then both of the detectors 10 and 11 are imparted with the force to take the angular position as shown by the detector 10 in FIG. 3. The detector 10 is adapted to close the contacts 13 and 15 when the printing plate 12 reaches the detector 10 as shown in FIG. 3 and to open said contacts when the detector is not in contact with the printing plate 12. In a similar manner, the detector 11 is adapted to close the contacts 14 and 16 when the printing about fulcrum points along 12 reaches the detector 11 and to open the normally closed contacts l4 and 17. Reference numeral 18 designates a power source; and 19 and 20, drums or cams for the digits of units and tens respectively, the more detailed view of which is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the drum is shown as 19. The drum 19 is comprised of a flanged portion 21 and a drum portion 22 which is further provided with a reduced diameter portion 23. The flanged portion 21 is marked with numerals from 0 to 9, and in positions along the generating lines of the cylindrical drum portion 22 corresponding with the numerals marked upon the flanged portion 21 are formed control elements, for example recessed portions corresponding with the black marks shown in FIG. 2, The outer periphery of the reduced diameter portion 23 corresponds with the bottom position of each of the above described recesses formed upon the drum portion 22. The drum l9 isprovided with live double-arm levers or followers from 24' to 28 which are pivoted about fulcrum points along the pivot line X-X. Ends 29 to 33 of the double-arm levers 24m 28 are adapted to abut against the drum portion 22 at the positions thereof where the above described recesses are formed. That is, ends 29 to 33 are so located as to correspond with the columns from L, to L and the rows T and T, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The other ends of the levers are adapted to actuate microswitches 34 each of which is disposed beneath one of levers 24 to 28. Furthermore, tension springs 35 are provided so as to act upon the levers 24 to 28 so that the ends 29 to 33 thereof are made to abut against the drum portion 22. When ends 29 to 32 of the levers engage with the recesses, each of the levers 24 to 28 actuates its corresponding microswitch 34 so as to close the contacts as shown by the drum in FIG. 3. When the ends from 29 to 32 do not engage with the recess, the lever is adapted to open the contacts as shown by the drum in FIG. 3. A double-arm lever 28 having one end abutted against the outer periphery of the reduced diameter portion 23 is adapted to normally close the contact of the electric circuit through a microswitch 34. Reference numeral 36 designates a lead wire extending from microswitch 34.

Now the reference is made again to FIG. 3. An impression or printing device designated in its entirety by P is comprised of a.lever 38 pivoted about a pivot 37, an impression or printing bar 39 pivoted at the extreme end of the lever 38 and a solenoid plunger 40 which is also pivoted to a suitable portion of thelever 38. When when a solenoid 41 is energized, the solenoid plunger 40 is moved downwardly so that the lever 38 is caused to rotate in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot 37, whereby the impression or printing bar 39 impresses or prints a black mark upon the surface of the printing plate 12. Reference numeral 42 designates a return spring for the lever 38; and 43, a microswitch which is adapted to be actuated by the lever 38 so as to open the circuit when lever 38 moves downward. Although only one of the double-arm levers from 24 to 28 is shown in FIG. 3, in practice they are disposed side-by-side relation as shown in FIG. 4, and one set of the impression or printing device as described above is provided for each of the double-arm levers 24 to 28 with their printing bars aligned transversely of the printing plate. Reference numeral 44 designates a guide plate for the printing plate 12; and 45, a pair of feed rollers.

Next the mode of operation of the device whose construc tion has been described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 will be described.

When the printing plate 12 is transported by means of the guide plate 44 and the pairs of feed rollers 45, the detector 10 is caused to rotate in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG.

3 so that the terminals or contacts 13 and 15 are closed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the detector 11 is not yet acting plate 12 so that the terminals or contacts 14 and 17 are closed. With respect to the double-arm levers from 24 to 27 of the drum 19 for the digit of units, those whose ends are engaged with the recesses formed in the drum portion 22 and the lever 28 close their corresponding microswitches 34 so that their corresponding electric circuits are closed as described hereinbefore. Therefore, the circuit (which includes the microswitch which has closed and the solenoid interconnected to this microswitch) is now supplied with current from the power source 18 so that the solenoid 41 is energized, whereby the solenoid plunger 40 is moved downwardly. As a result, the impression or printing bar 39 is caused to move downwardly by means of the lever 38 which is rotated in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot 37. Consequently, a black mark is impressed or printed upon the surface of the printing plate 12 passing below the bar 39. Since the drum 19 is preset so as to impress or print the digit of units of a number of copies to be printed upon printing plate 12, the black mark representing the digit of units and the starting mark S can be impressed or printed upon the surface of that printing plate 12 simultaneously, the starting mark being impressed or printed by an impression or printing bar controlled by a circuit which is closed by the action of the lever 28 which abuts against the reduced diameter portion 23 of the drum 19. When the impression or printing operation is started as described above, the associated microswitch 43 is actuated by the'lever 38 so that the circuit is opened whereby the solenoid 41 is deenergized thereby allowing the return of lever 38 and the impression or printing bar 39 to their normal positions by means of the return spring 42. Thus, the impression or printing operation impressing or printing upon the surface of the printing plate 12 the digit of units of a predetermined number of copies to be printed is accomplished.

When the printing plate 12 is further advanced so as to actuate the detector 11, the circuit between the contacts or terminals 14 and 17 is opened while the circuit between the contacts or terminals 14 and 16 is closed. Therefore, the drum 19 is disconnected from, and the drum 20 connected to, the circuit including the impression or printing device P and the power source 18. It is so arranged and disposed that when the detector 11 connects the terminals 14 and 16, the microswitch 43 is again connected with the circuit. Thus, in the similar manner as described with the reference to the operation of impression or printing of the digit of units, the operation of impressing or printing upon the surface of the same printing plate 12 the black mark or marks representing the digit of tens is started. In the quite similar a manner, it is possible to store any number of copies to be printed having many digits on a printing plate 12 when the drums for the higher digits of that number are disposed in succession with the drum 20.

It sill be also be clear to those skilled in the art that instead of the impression or printing device P, a punching device may be provided so as to punch the holes and that it is possible to provide protruded or projected portions instead of the recesses formed in the drum portion as control elements.

When it is desired to provide a mark, symbol or the like upon the back surface of a printing plate, the printing plate 12 in FIG. 3 may be turned upside down when transported. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a special margin for providing the marks, symbols or the like upon the printing plate. This is one of the features of this method.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a printing-plate-making machine in which is incorporated a device for providing the marks, symbols or the like described in detail hereinbefore, and provided with a transparent original supporting plate 46 for supporting, face down, an original to be copied and a discharge outlet 47 for a completed printing plate. By means of dials 48 and 49 which in turn are connected to the drums 19 and 20, the digits of units and tens of a number of copies to be printed can be preset. Reference numeral 50 designates the location where the drums 19 and 20, the levers associated therewith, and the microswitches associated with these levers are arranged and disposed. Reference numeral 51 designates the location where the detecting mechanism and the impression or printing device or the like are arranged and disposed. Both of the locations designated by 50 and 51 are interconnected by means of electrical wires.

Next reference is made to FIG. 6 illustrating the second embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals 52 and 53 designate printing plate detectors located in the transportation path of a printing plate 12 respectively. These detectors are rotatable about pivots 54 and 55, respectively. These pivots 54 and 55 also serve as electrical contacts. The detector 52 is for punching the mark of the digit of units; the detector 53 for punching the mark of the digit of tens. When the printing plate 12 is transported and reaches the detector 52, then the detector 52 is rotated by the printing plate 12 and positioned as shown in FIG. 6 so that the contact between the terminals 54 and 56 is closed. When the detector 52 is not in engagement with the printing plate 12, the detector 52 has an angular position similar to that of the detector 53 as shown in FIG. 6, so that the contact between the terminals 54 and 56 is opened. When, as shown in FIG. 6, the detector 53 is not in engagement with the printing plate the contact between the terminals 55 and 57 is closed. But, when the detector 53 engages with the printing plate 12, then the detector 53 is caused to clockwise rotate toward the position shown by the chain line so that the circuit between the terminal 55 and 57 is opened while the circuit between the terminals 55, 58 and 59 is closed. Reference numeral 60 designates a power source; and 61 and 62, ratchet wheels for the digits of units and tens respectively of a number of copies to be printed. One of the ratchet wheels is shown in FIG. 7 as 61. As shown in FIG. 7, the ratchet wheel designated in its entirety by 61 is comprised of a flanged portion 63 upon which are marked the numerals form 0 to 9, a cylindrical portion 65 in which are provided recesses 64 as control elements, and a ratchet portion provided with ratchet teeth. A plate 68 provided with an index mark 67 is provided for the flanged portion 63.

Now referring again to FIG. 6, a lever 70 pivoted about a fulcrum point 69 is provided with a pawl 71. At one end of the lever 70 is securely fixed a solenoid plunger 72 which is adapted to cooperate with a solenoid 73 interconnected with the circuit. Furthermore, the ratchet wheel 61 is provided with a double-arm lever 75 which is pivoted to a fulcrum point 74. A roller 76 attached to one end of the lever 75 is adapted to abut against the cylindrical portion 65 of the ratchet wheel 61 while the other end of the lever 75 is adapted to contact and thereby close a microswitch 77.

In parallel with the solenoid 73 is disposed a detecting brush 78 which in turn is biased toward a contact 79. The detecting brush 78 serves for detecting the holes of the row of holes for indicating a numeral which are provided in the printing plate 12 as shown in FIG. 8. When one of the holes is located immediately below the detecting brush 78, the detecting brush 78 contacts the contact 79 so that an electrical circuit can be established. The above described holes in numerical indicating second column 80 and a column 83 of holes for determining the position of punching a hole are provided in the printing plate 12 prior to the time that it is placed in the printing-platemaking machine.

With the circuit including the above described microswitch 77 and the detecting brush 88 is interconnected a solenoid 84 which actuates a punching device 0. Reference numeral 85 designates a power source; and 86, an interlocking switch adapted to switch between the microswitch 77 and a microswitch 87 associated with the ratchet wheel 62, and is further interconnected with the detector 53. The interlocking switch 86 is adapted to interconnect the microswitch 77 with the circuit when the detector 53 closes the contact between the terminal 55 and 58 while when the detector 53 completes the circuit between the terminals 55, 58 and 59, the switch 86 interconnects the microswitch 87 with the circuit.

Next the mode of operation of the devices whose construction has been described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 will be described.

When the printing plate 12 is transported so that it engages with the detector 52 so as to rotate the detector 52 in the clockwise direction, then the detector 52 closes the contact between the terminal 54 and 56. At this moment, the detector 53 is not actuated by the printing plate 12 so that the detector 53 is held in the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, whereby the contact between the terminals 55 and 57 is closed. Consequently, the solenoid 73 is interconnected in the circuit. When the first hole of the numerical indicating or representing hole column 80 of the printing plate 12 shown in FIG. 8 reaches the detecting brush 78, the electrical connection between the detecting brush 78 and its contact 79 is established so that the circuit including the solenoid 73 is energized. Consequently, the solenoid plunger 72 is caused to move downwardly so that the pawl 71 causes the ratchet wheel 61 to rotate by the distance equivalent to one tooth thereof. As described above, every time when the detecting brush 78 detects a hole of the numerical indicating or representing hole column the ratchet wheel 61 is caused to rotate by one tooth. However, as long as the roller 76 attached to the one end of the lever 75 is in contact with the cylindrical portion 65 of the ratchet wheel 61, the microswitch 77 is not actuated so that the circuit is not closed.

Let it be assumed that the digit of units which it is desired to represent is 5 then in FIG. 7, the graduated numeral 5 provided on the flanged portion 63 is aligned with the index mark 67. In this case, the recess portion 64 formed in the cylindrical portion 65 reaches the position of the roller 76 of the double-arm lever 75 when the ratchet wheel 61 is rotated by the distance equivalent to six teeth thereof so that the roller 76 falls into the recess 64. That is when the sixth hole representing 5 from the right of the numerical indicating or representing hole column reaches just immediately below the detecting brush 78, the roller 76 engages with the recessed portion 64, so that the lever 75 is caused to rotate in the clockwise direction, thereby actuating the microswitch 77 so as to close the circuit. However, the detecting brush 81 has not yet reached a hole 89 of the column 83 of holes determining the position of a'hole to be punched corresponding with and the solenoid 84 so that the punching device Q is not actuated. When the detecting brush 81 reaches the hole 89 for determining the position of a hole to be punched after the detecting brush 79 has passed through the numerical indicating or representing hole 88 but prior to the brush 78 reaching the hole next to the hole 88, the electrical connection between the detecting brush 81 and its associated contact 82 is established. In this case, since the hole next to the numerical indicating or representing hole 88 has not reached the detecting brush 78, the roller 76 remains in the recess 64 so that the microswitch 77 keeps the circuit closed. Therefore, the electric current from the power source 85 flows through the above described circuit including the solenoid 84, so that the punching device is activated, thereby punching a hole 90 (See FIG. 8) adjacent to the hole 89 for determining the position of a hole to be punched. Thereafter, the hole next to the hole 88 passes immediately below the detecting brush 78 so that the ratchet wheel 61 is caused to rotate further, whereby the roller 76 is disengaged from the recess portion 64, thereby causing lever 75 to stop acting-upon the microswitch 75 so as to open thecircuitfllhus, the operation of punching a hole representing a numeral of the digit of units is accomplished.

In summary, as printing plate 12 passes beneath detecting brush 78 a regular series of electrical impulses is sent to solenoid 78 as successive holes in row 80 pass beneath said detecting brush. Each impulse advances the ratchet wheel 61 one step until finally the roller 76 of the double-lever arm 75 engages recess 64, thus closing microswitch 77. When the detecting brush 81 then contacts contact 82 the solenoid 84 is activated and a hole 90 produced in the printing plate 12.

It will be understood that the position of hole 90 relative to the leading edge of the printing plate or, perhaps, the first hole in rows 83 or 80, is what is read" by the reading device in the offset press. The farther hole 90 is located to the left in FIG. 8, the higher the digit which it represents.

When the printing plate 12 is further advanced so as to actuate the detector 53, then the detector 53 opens the contact between the terminals 55 and 57 and closes the contact among the terminals 55,58 and 59 so that the solenoid 73 is disconnected from the circuit while the solenoid 91 for the ratchet wheel 62 is interconnected in the circuit. At the same time, the interlocking switch 86 interconnected with the detector 53 is switched so that the microswitch 77 is disconnected from the circuit while the microswitch 87 is interconnected in the circuit. Thus, in a similar manner as in the case of punching the memory hole 90 representing the digit of units, a memory hole 92 representing the digit of tens (See HO. 8) is punched. in FIG. 8, the memory hole 92 is shown in as indicating the numeral 3. Therefore, the printing plate shown in F IG. 8 stores a predetermined number of 35 copies to be printed.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that'when a number of ratchet wheels of the type described above is increased, it is possible to record in the printing plate a number of copies to be printed having more than three digits and that instead of the recessed portion formed in the cylindrical portion of the ratchet wheel, the projection may be used.

The reason why two columns of holes, one for representing a numeral while the other for determining the position of a hole to be punched, are utilized in the second embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 is so that the memory holes 90 and 92 representing the digits of units and tens, respectively, can be punched at precisely correct positions.

Although the second embodiment of the present invention described hereinabove has been described and shown as using the punching device, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that instead of the punching device the impression or printing device P shown in-FlG. 3 may be used.

The present invention has been described with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be clear that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit of the present invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A device for making printing plates, saidplates having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said nonprinting area on the finished plate bearing indicia impressed thereon and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies'to be rnade' 'from theprinting plate, said device comprising i i an electrical power source; 7 n g manually adjustable'means'movable to a position characteristic of the desired number of copies'to be made from the printing plate; i i n I means defining a "printing plate path through the device along which'a printing plate is movable;

means for detecting the presence of a printing plate in the I printing plate'path at a predetermined position therein and originating an electrical signal from said, electrical power source upon such detection; n H

means for applying indicia to the nonprinting area, said applying means comprising electrical circuit means activated upon receipt of said electrical signal, said means applying indicia at a selected portion of said nonprinting area corresponding to the position of the manually adjustable means. a r n v 2. The device of claim] wherein the manually adjustable means comprises .6

amovable cam; I e

a plurality of switches, movable between open and closed positions in response to movement of the earns;

a plurality of circuits, each circuit passing through one of the switches and each circuit connected in power-supplying relation to an indicia-applying member when its switch is closed.

3. A printing-plate-making machine comprising a device for marking printing plates having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said nonprinting area on the finished plate bearing indicia impressed thereon and 50 positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising an electrical power source;

means for defining a printing plate path through the device along which a printing plate may be moved;

means for detecting a printing plate at a first position within the printing plate path and originating an electrical signal from said source and thereupon closing a first switch;

marking means for placing an indicium on the printing plate at a selected position within the nonprinting area thereof, said marking means associated with circuit means activated upon receipt by said electrical signal;

a cam adapted for manual positioning in accordance with a desired number of copies to be produced from the printing plate;

a second switch associated with the cam;

means on the cam for closing the second switch when the cam is moved to a position corresponding to a number which is at least in part indicated by an indicium at the selected position on the printing plate and for retaining the second switch in an open position when the cam is moved to a position corresponding to a number which is not so indicated; and

said circuit means connecting in series the first switch, the

power source, the marking means, and the second switch whereby the marking means places an indicium on the printing plate when the first and second are closed.

4. A devicefor marking printing plates havinga nonprinting area with indicia characteristic of a desired copy number comprising:

a plurality of units digit circuits;

each units digit circuit comprising a units digit switch in semeans defining a printing plate path along which a printing plate may be advanced in an edgewise direction beneath a printing station;

a plurality of marking means for marking, when activated, portions of a printing plate at the printing station, each marking means being connected to a separate units digit circuit and being activated by the receipt of an electrical signal and each marking means marking the printing plate at a different position thereon;

a power source for supplying electrical power;

first detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate in a first preselected position at the printing station and thereupon completing the units digit circuits through the power source, the closed units digit switches, and the marking means, and thereby activating the marking means associated with the closed units digit switches.

5. The device of claim 4 comprising:

a plurality of tens digit circuits, each tens digit circuit being connected to a separate marking means;

each tens digit circuit comprising a tens digit switch in series with the remaining portions of the circuit;

second manually adjustable means for closing selected groups of the tens digit switches, a different such group being closed for each position of the manually adjustable means and each such group being characteristic of a different tens digit number, each said tens digit number comprising the tens digit of the desired copy number;

second detector means for detecting the presence of the printing plate in a second preselected position at the printing station and thereupon opening the units digit circuits and completing the tens digit circuits through the power source, the closed tens digit switches, and the marking means, and thereby activating the marking means associated with the closed tens digit switches.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein each of the first and second manually adjustable means comprises:

a rotatable cam drum;

irregularities on the surface of said cam drum; and

a cam follow for each of the irregularities placed to be engaged and moved by said irregularities, movement of a cam follow operating an associated digit switch.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the first and second detector means comprise movable feelers normally biased into a position in the printing plate path, said feelers being spaced in the direction parallel to said path, whereby they are contacted in succession by a printing plate advancing in said path, and said feelers being mounted for movement out of said path under the influence of contact of the advancing printing plate, said movement operating a switch in the associated digit circuits.

8. The device of claim 7 comprising a common housing enclosing components of a device for exposing a blank printing plate to an image of the original which is to be reproduced.

9. A device for making a printing plate from a printing plate blank having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said printing plate blank having two rows of holes, each row parallel to the other and to a side edge of the plate, said printing plate having indicia printed thereon or stamped therethrough and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising:

means defining a printing plate path along which a printing plate blank may be advanced in an edgewise direction beneath a marking station;

a first detector switch;

first printing plate detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate at a first predetermined position in the printing plate path and thereupon closing a first detector switch; first and second detecting brushes, each having a contact end in the printing plate path, one such contact end being aligned with one row of holes and the other with the other row of holes, said first and second detecting brushes making electrical contact through said holes with, respectively, a first contact and a second contact located on the opposite side of the printing plate path;

marking means for marking, when said means are activated by an electrical signal, a printing plate blank at the marking station;

a first rotary cam;

manually adjustable first step-by-step rotation means for rotating the first rotary cam in successive angular steps in response to successive electrical impulses;

a first cam switch;

means on the first rotary cam for closing the first cam switch at a predetermined angular position of the first rotary cam;

power supply means for supplying electrical power to the first step-by-step rotation means;

first circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the first detector switch, the first step-by-step rotation means, the first detecting brush, and the first contact;

power supply means for supplying electrical power to the marking means;

second circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the first cam switch, the marking means, the second detecting brush, and the second contact.

10. The device of claim 9 comprising:

second printing plate detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate at a second predetermined position in the printing plate path;

switch means operable upon detection of the presence of a printing plate by the second printing plate detector means for breaking the first circuit;

a second rotary cam;

manually adjustable second step-by-step rotation means for rotating the second rotary cam in successive angular steps in response to successive electrical impulses;

a second cam switch;

means on the second rotary cam for closing the second cam switch at a predetermined angular position of the second rotary cam;

power supply means for supplying electrical power to the second step-by-step rotation means;

a second printing plate detector switch connected to the second printing plate detector and closed by said second printing plate detector upon detection of the presence of a printing plate by said second printing plate detector;

switch means for disconnecting the second circuit upon detection of a printing plate by the second printing plate detector;

third circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the second detector switch, the second step-by-step rotation means, the first detecting brush, and the first contact; and

fourth circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the second cam switch, the marking means, the second detecting brush, and the second contact, upon the detection of a printing plate by the secon printing plate detector. 

1. A device for making printing plates, said plates having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said nonprinting area on the finished plate bearing indicia impressed thereon and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising an electrical power source; manually adjustable means movable to a position characteristic of the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate; means defining a printing plate Path through the device along which a printing plate is movable; means for detecting the presence of a printing plate in the printing plate path at a predetermined position therein and originating an electrical signal from said electrical power source upon such detection; means for applying indicia to the nonprinting area, said applying means comprising electrical circuit means activated upon receipt of said electrical signal, said means applying indicia at a selected portion of said nonprinting area corresponding to the position of the manually adjustable means.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the manually adjustable means comprises a movable cam; a plurality of switches movable between open and closed positions in response to movement of the cams; a plurality of circuits, each circuit passing through one of the switches and each circuit connected in power-supplying relation to an indicia-applying member when its switch is closed.
 3. A printing-plate-making machine comprising a device for marking printing plates having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said nonprinting area on the finished plate bearing indicia impressed thereon and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising an electrical power source; means for defining a printing plate path through the device along which a printing plate may be moved; means for detecting a printing plate at a first position within the printing plate path and originating an electrical signal from said source and thereupon closing a first switch; marking means for placing an indicium on the printing plate at a selected position within the nonprinting area thereof, said marking means associated with circuit means activated upon receipt by said electrical signal; a cam adapted for manual positioning in accordance with a desired number of copies to be produced from the printing plate; a second switch associated with the cam; means on the cam for closing the second switch when the cam is moved to a position corresponding to a number which is at least in part indicated by an indicium at the selected position on the printing plate and for retaining the second switch in an open position when the cam is moved to a position corresponding to a number which is not so indicated; and said circuit means connecting in series the first switch, the power source, the marking means, and the second switch whereby the marking means places an indicium on the printing plate when the first and second are closed.
 4. A device for marking printing plates having a nonprinting area with indicia characteristic of a desired copy number comprising: a plurality of units digit circuits; each units digit circuit comprising a units digit switch in series with the remaining portions of the circuit; first manually adjustable means for closing selected groups of the units digit switches, a different such group being closed for each position of the manually adjustable means and each such group being characteristic of a different units digit number, each said units digit number comprising the units digit of the desired copy number; means defining a printing plate path along which a printing plate may be advanced in an edgewise direction beneath a printing station; a plurality of marking means for marking, when activated, portions of a printing plate at the printing station, each marking means being connected to a separate units digit circuit and being activated by the receipt of an electrical signal and each marking means marking the printing plate at a different position thereon; a power source for supplying electrical power; first detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate in a first preselected position at the printing station and thereupon completing the units digit circuits through the power source, the closed units digit switches, and the maRking means, and thereby activating the marking means associated with the closed units digit switches.
 5. The device of claim 4 comprising: a plurality of tens digit circuits, each tens digit circuit being connected to a separate marking means; each tens digit circuit comprising a tens digit switch in series with the remaining portions of the circuit; second manually adjustable means for closing selected groups of the tens digit switches, a different such group being closed for each position of the manually adjustable means and each such group being characteristic of a different tens digit number, each said tens digit number comprising the tens digit of the desired copy number; second detector means for detecting the presence of the printing plate in a second preselected position at the printing station and thereupon opening the units digit circuits and completing the tens digit circuits through the power source, the closed tens digit switches, and the marking means, and thereby activating the marking means associated with the closed tens digit switches.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein each of the first and second manually adjustable means comprises: a rotatable cam drum; irregularities on the surface of said cam drum; and a cam follow for each of the irregularities placed to be engaged and moved by said irregularities, movement of a cam follow operating an associated digit switch.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the first and second detector means comprise movable feelers normally biased into a position in the printing plate path, said feelers being spaced in the direction parallel to said path, whereby they are contacted in succession by a printing plate advancing in said path, and said feelers being mounted for movement out of said path under the influence of contact of the advancing printing plate, said movement operating a switch in the associated digit circuits.
 8. The device of claim 7 comprising a common housing enclosing components of a device for exposing a blank printing plate to an image of the original which is to be reproduced.
 9. A device for making a printing plate from a printing plate blank having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said printing plate blank having two rows of holes, each row parallel to the other and to a side edge of the plate, said printing plate having indicia printed thereon or stamped therethrough and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising: means defining a printing plate path along which a printing plate blank may be advanced in an edgewise direction beneath a marking station; a first detector switch; first printing plate detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate at a first predetermined position in the printing plate path and thereupon closing a first detector switch; first and second detecting brushes, each having a contact end in the printing plate path, one such contact end being aligned with one row of holes and the other with the other row of holes, said first and second detecting brushes making electrical contact through said holes with, respectively, a first contact and a second contact located on the opposite side of the printing plate path; marking means for marking, when said means are activated by an electrical signal, a printing plate blank at the marking station; a first rotary cam; manually adjustable first step-by-step rotation means for rotating the first rotary cam in successive angular steps in response to successive electrical impulses; a first cam switch; means on the first rotary cam for closing the first cam switch at a predetermined angular position of the first rotary cam; power supply means for supplying electrical power to the first step-by-step rotation means; first circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the first detector switch, the first step-by-step roTation means, the first detecting brush, and the first contact; power supply means for supplying electrical power to the marking means; second circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the first cam switch, the marking means, the second detecting brush, and the second contact.
 10. The device of claim 9 comprising: second printing plate detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate at a second predetermined position in the printing plate path; switch means operable upon detection of the presence of a printing plate by the second printing plate detector means for breaking the first circuit; a second rotary cam; manually adjustable second step-by-step rotation means for rotating the second rotary cam in successive angular steps in response to successive electrical impulses; a second cam switch; means on the second rotary cam for closing the second cam switch at a predetermined angular position of the second rotary cam; power supply means for supplying electrical power to the second step-by-step rotation means; a second printing plate detector switch connected to the second printing plate detector and closed by said second printing plate detector upon detection of the presence of a printing plate by said second printing plate detector; switch means for disconnecting the second circuit upon detection of a printing plate by the second printing plate detector; third circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the second detector switch, the second step-by-step rotation means, the first detecting brush, and the first contact; and fourth circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the second cam switch, the marking means, the second detecting brush, and the second contact, upon the detection of a printing plate by the second printing plate detector. 